The Woman in Red

The Woman in Red: 30. The bet

The
brooch was very pretty to look at and big and because of the many diamonds
there were used in she sparkled. Katarina had showed Jean-Pierre that the
backside could be opened and that there was a little opening where she hide the
transmitter. He got the earpiece that served as a
receiver.

They
had left not too early in the evening after Katarina had to promise her sister
she wouldn’t take big risks. Katarina had promised, knowing it was a little
white lie. From now on everything was dangerous. Monsieur Charles was a
mysterious and powerful person. He could dig up the deepest secrets with his
hypnosis. She would have to be cunning and apply all her womanly charm and
seducing techniques.

Jean-Pierre
reluctantly had agreed with the plan. He knew that if they would like to save
the Baroness, they had to go to any extreme. Those gangsters weren’t easily intimidated, and they wouldn’t hesitate to liquidate
her.

When
they arrived at a deserted factory site, Jean-Pierre looked very surprised at
his female partner. ‘Is there really a party going on here? It doesn’t look
that way.’

‘Just
wait here, I’ll push the code for the fence to open,
and then we can enter the site. Monsieur Charles has reconstructed here
one of the hangars as one of his residences, with everything that it implies.
At the door will have to re-enter a code and don’t be startled if you are
frisked. He doesn’t take risks. I only hope he will be present, the faster we
come into action, the sooner we can solve
this.’

She
was right. After she had pushed a code on a panel near the entrance, the door
clicked open, and they were intercepted
in a small space by a guy who looked like a wardrobe who frisked them
professionally. The man took all his time to frisk Katarina, more than was
necessary and he especially paid attention if she hadn’t hidden something
between her breasts. Jean-Pierre almost attacked the man, despite all the risks
entailed, but a look from Katarina made him change his mind.

After
they were approved, they could enter the
living space. Actually, it looked more like a big hall, where here and there
living spaces were placed. Seats, tables and other furniture. Central was a big
bar where three people constantly had their work for serving the guests. The
hall was well filled with smiling, talking people. Some couples were sitting in
a corner playing a bit with each other, without someone was looking at them.

Katarina
was searching the space when a voice made them startle for a moment. ‘Well,
well, well, who do we have here? Miss Katarina and her apprentice. I honestly
hadn’t expected you. Have you still spoken to your mother?’

Monsieur
Charles’ question came very quickly, but Katarina obviously had expected it.
‘Mother’s well, but she’s gone into hiding for a while after the raid. I had to
inform you that she would contact you before the end of the month, but she
hasn’t said why.’

Monsieur
Charles laughed. ‘No problem, I know what she means. I’m glad to see some
familiar faces. The most of them are parasites who enjoy my wealth, but real
friends I don’t have many of them. Can I offer you something to drink?’

‘Thank
you, Charles, but I think Jean-Pierre must get us something. In the meantime,
we can catch up maybe and enjoy the evening. Jean-Pierre, be nice and get us a
glass of champagne and take something too. Afterward,
you can enjoy the present company, there certainly a girl amongst them
you will like.’

Jean-Pierre
had to set his teeth, hearing Katarina’s arrogant tone. But he knew she played
it. He had to come across as humble and obedient apprentice. ‘Of course,
Katarina, I’ll just do that.’ He disappeared and left the two in each other’s
company.

‘Your
performance last at the castle was magnificent, Charles. You always know to
surprise the people with your gift. Actually, when I think about that night, I get warm again. Or maybe it’s so hot because there are so many people
here.’ She waved with her hand in front of her décolletage.

Monsieur
Charles did take the tip. ‘Maybe we can remove ourselves and get into my
private chambers. It’s much cooler there. Come with me, my beautiful Katarina.’ He took her arm in his, and they went, watched by Jean-Pierre with his two glasses of
champagne, to the end of the hall. A door there gave entrance to the private
apartment of the artist.

After
she had entered, Katarina sat down on a
long couch, seeing to it that her red dress fell open by the split and showed
her long legs and left almost nothing to the imagination.

Charles
poured out a whiskey for her and himself.
Katarina saw it was an Auchentoshan. The only whiskey
out of Scotland, that is distilled three
times. Very good, but expensive stuff. He sat beside her and pretentious laid a
big hand on her uncovered thigh. ‘Are you
still so warm, darling?’ he asked as sweet as honey while his hand softly
caressed her thigh.

‘But
Charles, I just get warmer because…,’ and she put her hand on his. ‘Maybe I’ve got too many clothes on. Or maybe you have been naughty, and you have whispered
a suggestion to me to get me so hot. I know you can do that.’

Katarina
had started her offensive. Would Charles fall for it or would he sense danger.
She had to go through with it. ‘I’m sure if you would tell me a secret I
wouldn’t be able to pass it on, you would remove it out of my head with your
hypnosis.’

Charles
caressed her other thigh now, obviously he would like to play it slowly. Maybe
that aroused him? ‘Indeed, sweetie, I can tell you everything, I have the power
to let persons do something, but also to let them forget what I want them to
forget. Would you like to see an example of my powers?’

‘It
has to be really important, let see… Hmm,
do you have a vault or a locker where you put your secrets in?’ Katarina’s heart was hammering inside her chest.
If he didn’t go along, all their efforts were for nothing.

‘Of
course I have. It’s in the little room alongside by the way. A man of my class
and quality has too many valuable objects he can’t let linger about. Explain a
bit more, what do you want me to do?’

‘If
you give me at this moment the code of your locker and I repeat it until I know
it by heart, can you wipe it out of my memory. I don’t think so, but…’

‘But
Katarina, that’s a child’s play. But if you don’t believe me on my word, well… the code is 45279. Repeat it as much as you
want and I’ll hypnotize it out of your head afterward.’
He laughed at full. Obviously he found it very amusing.

Katarina
had what she needed. As a matter of form, she acted as if she repeated the code
a number of times. ‘Alright, do your thing, but I’ll prove you that I’ll still
remember it afterward. Then you’ll still
have to change your code. For what are we betting?’

Monsieur
Charles smirked very pleased with himself and answered: ‘For you, Katarina, for
you!’

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